Button fastener



April 21, 1931! L. B. ERWIN 1,801,850

BUTTON FASTENER Filed July 22. 1930 \mmmox Lox mm Eiwm Patented Apr- 2 1 UNiTEn STATES LAWRENCE B. ERWIN, OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS BUTTON FASTENER Application filed. July 22,

My invention relates to button fasteners, by means of which, perforated buttons may be secured to garments and the like, and it particularly relates to the class of fasteners having a pronged element.

My object is to provide a fastener which may be used with the ordinary perforated commercial button,'and be positive in 1ts functioning, and of a character that will per- 16 mit economical manufacture.

My invention consists in the combination of a pronged element of'novel form, and a co-operating member adapted to engage the prongs and securely hold the button through 1 which the prongs are extended.

In the accompanying specifications and the drawings forming apart thereof, I have shown a preferred form of my invention.

In the drawings- Fig. I is a sectional elevation of a button and a fastener embodying my invention.

2 is a perspective view of the pronged element which I employ.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the lock member.

Referring to the drawing, the fastener comprises a pronged element A and a lock member B with which it engages.

The element A is formed with prongs corresponding in number and arrangement 39 with the holes in the bottom C with which it is used, and each prong is provided with a barb 11 which forms a shoulder therewith The barbed prongs are inserted in the perforations of the button, pierce the fabric to which the button is to be attached, and engage with the lock member B which operates to secure the pronged member against withdrawal therefrom, the button being thus firmly fastened in position.

The lock member B comprises a shell perforated as at 14c to correspond with the number and position of the prongs of the element A. Secured within the shell 13 are the yielding elements 15 intersecting the axial extension of each perforation, and adapted to engage with the barbs 11, which deflect the yielding elements, permitting the barbs to pass and the yielding elements snap back 1930. Serial No. 469,718.

above the shoulder 12, thus locking the prongs against withdrawal from the holder B.

I prefer to form the yielding elements each to function with a pair of prongs and in the preferred form of fastener, I have shown the elements as formed from spring wire wound about the stud 16, the'ends 17 extending to normally intersect the extended boundary lines of two of the perforations 14.

The manner in which the fastener is used is as follows:

The prongs of the element A are passed through the perforations of the button C and pressed through the fabric to which it is to be attached, to project on the other side. The co-operating lock member is then applied to the projecting barbed ends of the pronged element.

' As prongs are pressed into the lock member, the yielding elements are deflected by the 70 barbs and spring back above the barbs to en- 1 gage the shoulders and prevent withdrawal;

- element provided with a barb on each prong forming a shoulder therewith, in combination therewith a co-operating lock member comprising a perforated shell; elements secured to the shell, and normally intersecting the axial extension of the perforations, and adapted to be engaged by the barbs of the pronged element, and to be deflected thereby when axial pressed, and to return to normal position to engage the shoulders formed on the prongs, to prevent separation.

2. In a button fastener having a pronged element provided with a barb on each prong forming a shoulder therewith, and a co-ope-rating perforated member, in combination therewith, yielding elements secured to the perforated member and normally intersecting the axial extension of the perforations, and adapted to be deflected by the barbs of pronged element, and to engage the shoulders formed thereby, to prevent separation.

LAWRENCE B. ERWIN. 

